Swiss trains power homes with solar panels on railway lines
A year-old pilot project in Switzerland has successfully integrated photovoltaic panels into railway lines, generating 19 MWh of electricity with no impact on train operations. The company behind the scheme, Sun-Ways, aims to tap 1 TWh of potential power, meeting 30% of the country's public transport needs. The project's success has sparked interest in harnessing underutilized space on railway lines worldwide.
Key points
- Sun-Ways, a Swiss company, has installed photovoltaic panels on a railway line in Buttes, Switzerland, generating over 19 MWh of electricity in a year.
- The 48 solar panels, wedged between the tracks, have been traversed by over 11,000 trains without incident, with no impact on railway operations or solar generation.
- The company estimates a potential 1 TWh of power available on Swiss railway lines, enough to meet 30% of the country's public transport needs.
- Sun-Ways has developed a rail-mounted machine to deploy solar panels, capable of installing up to 300 panels per hour over hundreds of kilometers.
- The project's success has sparked interest in harnessing underutilized space on railway lines worldwide, with potential applications in countries with extensive rail networks.
- Regulatory challenges were the main hurdle in implementing the project, according to Sun-Ways' CEO, Joseph Scuderi.
Swiss trains power homes with solar panels on railway lines
A year-old pilot project in Switzerland has successfully integrated photovoltaic panels into railway lines, generating 19 MWh of electricity with no impact on train operations. The company behind the scheme, Sun-Ways, aims to tap 1 TWh of potential power, meeting 30% of the country's public transport needs.
The project's success has sparked interest in harnessing underutilized space on railway lines worldwide. With extensive rail networks in many countries, the potential for renewable energy generation is significant. Sun-Ways' innovative approach could pave the way for a new era of sustainable transportation.
Regulatory challenges were the main hurdle in implementing the project, according to Sun-Ways' CEO, Joseph Scuderi. However, the company has developed a rail-mounted machine to deploy solar panels, capable of installing up to 300 panels per hour over hundreds of kilometers.
Sources
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